Railway and like signaling.



A. KERR.

RAILWAY A ND LIKE SIGNALING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, I916.

1,274,719. Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

' 3 SHEETSSHEET l- A. KERR.

I RMLWA Y AND LIKE SIGNALING.

" APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6.1916.

1 ,274Q7 1 9. N Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M LT/lanes. flame/v70) 1 Pep I I A.KERR;

RAILWAY AND LIKE SIGNALING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, I916.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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P W7 A arm 7 To allwhom meg concern .s AT s {PA-TENT; OFFICE.

'nn'nnnw ERR, or Banne v y I RAILWAY AND LIKE sIeNALine.

. 4 Be a known that I, Aapm Km; Ia subject of the Kingbf Greatj Britain and Ireland, residing atBelfast, Ireland, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in and Relating, to Railway and a like Sigaling, of ,whichgthe" following is a specifica- ,t1on.r a w This 'invention'irelates to safety appara- Ytus, used in connection iwithrailway and like signaling, oft-he class in'which'a safety device, operated automatically by the passage .e ofa train, sets, at danger, one .,or more-sig-v nalsin rear of the safety devicelso that the said signals remain at'idangeri" andblock V the line against anyiollowing train until the train,fwhich hasheen instrumental in setting.

' the signals at danger, has cleared the secin or connected; with the usual semaphore signal control gear in such manner that the tion guardedbythesignals and, whendo'ing this, the" train actuatejs azdevice which =re- V leases the, beforementioned; signals so vthat a h felin jm y b e iiIri' e e nzsigne ing apparatus of this "elassit h'asheretofore 7 been proposed touse whatfaree known as slip connectiondevlces which are'inserted latter can be disconnected or interrupted to effect danger signals and reconnected or restored to allow of clea'rl signals being invention the slip connection I k V g Qdevicesso' as to reconnect the signalmans Under my deviees are controlled by leversor so-called ttreadles pivotedorfulcrumed to a track 7 35' i be. depressed by the wheel ofa passing train' rail in. such manner, that their free ends can and, when. depressed, act} in such manner as ,phpresignal gear when a fdanger signal is f to release the tension of, er ex'el' a pull on, v wires or equivalent connectedwith pawls or other parts,"of the slipconnection dev ces toso move same as to disconnect the semav to be givenand to reconnect the signal gear when a clear signal is to be-given by the signalmana There may be, in conjunction with relation of the treadleandcylinderjto' each other and to the track railwill be unaflected bymovements of the rail dueto' the passage I he.

of a 'train; the sinking of the 'sleepers or other cause.

. lf e lisa ssi mee mnts h iiiefi ii Specification of Letters Patent.

usual, fmoving automatlcally to danger when the signalmans w re is slackenejdfor Ionfa track rail, this t readle being depressed-t jby thewheel of a passing train and when depressed disconnecting "the signalmans ,6th ,day 118765.]fl a Inforder that my invention may be clearly understood I have hereunto appended ex Iplanatory drawings whereon-my invention is shown by way of illustration or example ed for cross over linesand in'this casethere vconnection devices controlling the home and distant signals on both. sides f ofithe' cross oven lineiwhereby said signals vv ould fbe set guarded by said signals.

- In a block, signaling arrangement as 1L eprefer' jto construct the same there is the usual home semaphore signal and thefdis tant semaphore signal, these signals; as

disconnected: and moved to cle'ari on the )pull of the signalma'ns wire Inconnection -w1th-v these semaphore; signals arelfslip connection? devices operable by a safety treadle wires to both the home? and distant'siga ,nals so that .these will be automatically set Lat danger and the Signalman willfbeun- Patented Augrfi, 191s. Application filed September'G, 1 91s}, seria1no.11s',7ee.{. I

-at dangerfwhenatraincrosses'frompne line 7 i I to the other. and remains within the section able to pull them to clear; the-line being consequently iblocked against a following train. The line remains blocked untilthe, train has. left the {section of the track guarded-by the signals whereupon the out;

going train actuatesanother treadle device adapted ;to eo-act' with the slip connection wires and permit him to clear the line to any 'inconiing train, Preferably in connection vwith the homel and distant -."semaphore signals, ,tl 1ere are audible signals operable by ,treadl'e levers on theftrack in the manner set jfoith in my co-pending applicationfield the .ofSepternber, 1916, ,Serial No.

in one form or embodiment thereof.

" treadle and a resetting cylinder-I and EigIQ IlSia, cross sectional view; on the line ai-fm 1 i Figs B, and A: are respectively an end ,elel vetioniand asid v vm ien 'Q the pieoni t -Qfi s y de i e. ada d p 0 mm signal opera tingj gear {toin'sure the Fig. 3.being a section on the .line Fig. 4.

Fig. is a plan viewof Fig. 3. 1 Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing a block signaling arrangementein accordance yza nd'home signals 'on each side of .a station.

On the drawings the same reference letters wherever repeated indicate the same or similar parts. I "Referring to the'drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a'treadle 3 is arranged in conjunction with 'the"home signal 2 for thestation s and is securedv to' the track rail '1' being' fulcrumed at t. Near its free'end the trea'dle is connected by pm 0 thefpiston rod of the piston Q of a cylinder 0 which is also'se'cure'd to andsupportand'to the track' rail will be. unaffected 'by 7 ed by the track rail 1;; A spring o normally tends to forceu'p the piston and retain the treadle in the operative position. 0?, 0 "are "no1r ret-ur11valvesin the pistonfi'o is a re- .J'str1cted a r passage. 0 is an alroutlet valve 'and'sois and both'these valves close au- 'tomati'cally against any inlet of air. As will be seen thearrangement is such that the relation ofthe treadleand cylinder to each other movementsof'the' raili due. to fsinking'of sleepers or any other cause. This treadle is arranged near the station siand when the Way is fclea rl and the wheel of a passing "train depresses this treadle the latter .will

release the tensionon a' wire 0 connected therewith and with a we1ghted lever 0 4 of *the slip connection and ful'crumed in abox A, atfc and normally held in'the position shown in Fig. 3 by the tension or pull'oif the Wire 0 when the treadle 3 is in thejup' position (see dotted lines Fig; 2). l/Vheni the wire 0 is thus slackened the weight" 0 on the end of lever 0 causes the end c 'of the fdanger setting swing pawl 01*, .fulcrumed a projection f on a counterbar f inserted in a s gnalwlre a thereby disengaging'the pawl f from engagement with a slidably supported bar 9 alongside thebar f and connecting by a wire a with the distant ,signal 1. \Vhen the pawl f is being so lifted a projection F, on the other side of the pawl f, lifts orpushes outward the end i of a swing pawl i, fulcrumed at untilthe pawl bar 2' passes underneath the projection f from underthepiston to thetop thereof through the-hon-return valves o and and, at the same time the 'sprlng 0 iscompre's'sed.

:When theffirst wheel of the train has. passed,

. "the; spring 10* ten ds to raise: the piston and "6 5 createdunder the piston 0 (at the closure the shutting 6f the non-return valves 0 and 0 sorthatzth'e treadle is practically held in with my invention and arranged for distant iof hole 0 and ready fon'the' next train. When the pawl 7 is not lifted out of'engagement 'withthe 'notchin the bar gj'then *the pulling ofthe'signal wire a of the cabin z' will," through'themedium of the'bar f and pawl f, correspondingly move thebar jgiand' asthe latter is connected with the wire connecting with weighted lever 1 ofthe distant signal 1 the signalman can pull this semaphore signal to the clear position.

Iiithe'example shown the pulling of the "lever l also, througha connection 6 simul- 1 taneously brings a treadle l 'controlling the audiblesignal to (similar to thatdescribed in my co-pendin'g application) torthe Fclear jp'osition.

" In the caseof the'hom e signal the'audi- 'blejsignal {i only is preferably simultane- .ously actuatedi on thefdepression of the treadle 3, the linelsignal (or semaphore) 2 being'directly connected to the signal cabin z and the counter-bar In, in this case,'.only controls (in the manner referred to in my "copending 'application) the whistle 4, the "releasing pawl arrangement being similar 1 to.- that j ust described with. reference to the distantVsignal.

"When" the train traveling inthedirection of the arrow, has passed the station 's'it ymakescontact with 'another treadle 3 ,.simit ,la'r" to 3*, and placed far outsideofthe staat 0 to I1S6, ttl(il1g with it theprolection f on a'p'awl f-which is pivotally secured to 'tion 8 or at the'endr of'the station section. This 'treadle 3" connects, ."by' spring 3. and Wire 3, with branch wires 3 and 3 leadingto'l'everst 'and 2' (see Fig. 6). These lovers 2' and 2'? are used in connection with the swingjpawlsiKFig. 3) which the train,

by depre'ssi'njg'the treadle3 caused to pass gunder; the "projection on the pawl to hold the latterout' of action and now,"on

the depression'of the treadle'ii the' wire 3 .andbranches 3? and 3 are put in'teiis'ion thereby liftingihe'levers i and i and so causing theswing pawls 'z' to b'e pulled out of engagement with the pro1ection of the pawl .74 andth'ereby allowing-this pawl to drop and engage the counter-bar 5 so that itconnects iwithithe signal-bar f. and per:

j m S'th'ej Signalman to give a 3901651 signal at both homeland distantl signals. 1 The spring "takes up orovercomesthe inertia qfthe ivn efi yyhenbeing set in motion;

At the home signal the 'trea'dle" 3 is go to the danger position; Similarly a wire m leading to the lever m is slackencd r by the "depression of the treadle f3 *and the pawl is: lifted out of engagement: with .the counter-bar k and held'outjof 'actlon by 'a swing pawl i similar toithatshown in Fig.

3. 'In' this position" the; bar la =is1free- :to slide 1 and,"u' nder the "action of thefweighted'leverj 4 and wire 70 brings a treadle= 2 tothe Z;

danger position'i and ready"? for: whistle 1 4: to be operated by the knext passing: train;

When the train 'hasgpasse'd theistations" it makes contact with the Ktreadle 3E tand when with thepaw-ls f so thatj thepawlsireenga 'e their respective countert barsand'the signa man "can then" give clear signals atpboth home and distant signals. g'lhe'treadle 3 is fitted with a-resettingcylinder similar to that shown and deseribedfl'wlth refer- I ence to Figs. 1 and-21+ P shown. for a train approaching the station in the "opposite direction will be actuatedas herein described with reference 'to thetrain traveling in the directionof the arrow '0.

At'a cross over line 3 I may place a treadle 2 and'cylinder 0 and connect same by a wire it with lever k of the distant signal apparatus, by a wire n with a lever n to the home signal apparatus, by a wire g and branch wires 9 and g with levers m' and k of the home andxdistant signal apparatus of the signals for the opposite direction of travel so that when a train passes over this cross over treadle 2 then the distant and home signals in both directions will be set at danger and trains approaching the section in either or both directions will receive the audible warning signal.

receive warning of danger. The signals on each line will remain at danger until a train has been signaled to proceed and allowed to pass the releasetreadle 3? of each line. If

desired the distant signals could beconnecta ed similarly to the honiesignals so that the signalman could use both signals to signal.

airtrain to proceed, by semaphore, but preferably the driver .of the train would still In theevent of a line being used as a single line my apparatus and its treadles could belowered and locked out of action, flavingnow fullydescribed my invention,

:wh'atI claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent: is 1 i lwIn railway signaling, thewcombination the; said lever being connected to the mak- Fing'andbreaking device and when depressed operating-said device to break the contmmty of the-signal operating means and when returned -permitting the said device to restore the continuity of the signal operating means. railway signaling, the combination with a signal: and means" forjoperating 1 the same, of a device 'form'a'king and breaking the continuity of said signal operating means, 1 a lever fulcrumed' on a track rail 7 7 g and depressible'by' the'wheels of apassing this treadle 3 is: depressed the wires :3 5 and 5 3 are placed in: tension and :liift the swing "paiwls 1i and fIGQI-Sanl/YEIOIH; engagement train, and air cushioned means for return- "aing' the lever: again after I each depression,

the said lever beingconnected tothe maknal operating means; r

3511i railway si'gnaling, the combination It 111 be obvious that th'ezapparatus with a signal and "means for operatingthe same, of a device for making and breaking -the'; fconti11uity"of said "signal operating with a signal and means for operating the same, of a device for making and breaking the continuity of said signal operating means, a lever fulcrnmed on a track rail and depressible by the wheels of a passing train, said lever being connected to the mak ing and breaking device and when depressed operating said device to break the continuity of thefsignal operating means, and means connected'with said lever and comprising i an air cylinder, a pistoncushioned by the air therein, and a spring acting on said 1 piston, forcausing said lever to permit the device to act to restore the continuity of the signal operating means, V

5. In railway signaling," the combination fWith a gn l and m ns for onerating the same, of a device for making :and breaking the continuity of said signalrroperating means, a-lever .ful'crumed-on aw-track rail and depressible by-the \VllGBlSIOIE a passing t'train, said lever being'connected to the making and breaking device and 'VVlIGIlZdBPIBSSBd operating saiddevice-to break-the continuity of the signal operatingineans;and means connected with said lever and comprising an air cylinder carried by 'the track rail, a piston cushioned by-theair in-the cylinder and connected tot-he said lever and a spring acting on said piston, for causing said-lever to permit! the device to act torestore the continuity of the signal operating-means.

6. In railway signaling, the combination with a signal and means for operating the same,'of a device for making and-breaking :the continulty of sald signal operating means, a lever fulcrumed. on atrack rail and (lGPI'BSSlblB by'the Wheels of apassmg-tram,

'saidlever-being connected to the -maki-ng and breaking device and When depressed operating said device to break the continuity of thesignal operating means,- automatically acting means for causing the device to restore the COIltiHllltYOfwtllG signaLoperating means, and air cushioned-means carriedby the track-rail and connected to thefsaid leverfor permitting the said automatic :ineans to act. I

7 In railway -signaling,the combination with asignal and means for operating "the same of a devicefor makingandbreaki-ng the continuity of, i said signal operating means, a lever fulcrumed on a trackrail and depressible bythe Wheels of a 1 passingatrain, said lever being connected to--the:making and-breaking device and When depressed operating said device to break the continuity -of the signal operatingmeans, means for restoringthe continuity of the signal operatringsmeaiis, and air: cushioned means for-re- :turning; said lever, after each depression.

' V 8.:In railway signaling, the combination wwith a signal which automatically goes to -:the da11ger osition, of pulling means-un- .;der the control, of the signal man :for pulling the signalto-clear, a slip connection 'udevice connected with-the pullingmeans, a :lever fulcrnmed on a'track rail and depressible by the IWhBGlS of aipassing train-to operate "the slip aconnection device and cause the ;.disconnection of the pulling :means thereby preventing; the :signal, man pulling the, signal tovtherclear position, automatically actingemeans f0 ragain restoring the connec- "tion of the pulling means; and ,air cushioned rmeansactingon the said lever toreturn it afiter ecah depression.

' ":IIL testimony whereof I 'ai'lix n1y;signature impresence of two witnesses.

v a ANDREW KERR.

-- Witnesses ANDREW HAMILTON, f JOHN? KNOX,

Copiesof this patentmay be obtained ifonfiveicentsxeachyby addressing rthe- Gommissioner of Eaten,

ewashingtomlhc. 

